Somayaga

The Somayāga or Somayajña is a Hindu ritual. It is a type of yajña performed to appease celestial entities to promote the well-being of all humanity. This ritual is based on methods described in the Vedas. Soma is used as the main offering in this yajna, hence the name Somayajña. The Soma plant, the king of medicinal herbs, is said to be relished by the celestials.

Types

A Somayajña features a full complement of priests, each assisted by three others. Sixteen priests participate in the Somayajña. The seven types of Somayajña are:

  • Agnistoma – The first and main type, referred to as the Prakriti (archetype) while the other six are its Vikriti.
  • Uktya
  • Shodashi
  • Atiratra
  • Atya Agnistoma
  • Vajapeya
  • Aptoryam

Importance

Somayajña has unparalleled importance in yajna culture. This special yajna is said to provide a powerful boost of healing energy extending to the whole world. The performance of a Somayajña is intended to cleanse the atmosphere so that it becomes medicinal, nutritious and disease-free, yielding a qualitative and quantitative improvement in the psyche. The purported benefits of Somayajña are similar to those of the other Śrauta yajnas, e.g., cleansing the environment of toxins. The performance of a Somayajña has prerequisites apart from the knowledge of Yajurveda, together with the auxiliary sutras e.g. Srauta grihya-dharma-kalpa, pertaining to the rescension of the Veda.

Practice
  • Anant Shri Vibhushan Sarvotomukhi, Vajpayee Soumyajit Dixit Jagadguru Pithadhishwar-Mathadhishwar Padma Bhushan, His Divine Holiness Acharya Dr. Goswami Shri Gokulotsavji Maharaj has performed more than 84 Somyagyas. His son, Anant Shri Vibhushan Sarvotomukhi, Vajpayee Soumyajit Dixit Jagadguru Vallabhsampradayacharya Acharya Dr. Goswami Shree Vrajotsavji has performed more than 47 Somyagyas.[1] Together they have performed Sapta Samhita and many other types of Somyagyas. They played an instrumental role in popularizing Somyagyas.
  • In 2015, an Atya Agnistoma Somayajña was performed by Dharma Vardhiny Sabha near Gnana Saraswati Temple, Basar. This was the first recorded performance of a Somayajña in Basar. The yajna was performed over six days at the Naimisharanyam Yagashala[2] from 27 July 2015 to 1 August 2015.[3]
  • In 2017, Samvit Sadhnanyan Trust, monitored by Swami Shri Ishwaranandgiriji Maharaj, organized and performed Soma Yajna at the Shankralok Ashrama in Uvarsad gram, Gandhinagar. This was the first recorded yajna in the western part of India. The seven-day carnival took place from 26 Feb 2017 until 3 March 2017. The special Somvalli from the Himalayas was used during this event. Sri Ranganath Krishna Selukar Ji Maharaj of Parbhani Maharashtra performs Somayajna in other areas of India.
  • The Nambudiri Brahmins of Kerala have continued the tradition of performing the Agnistoma (Agnistoma somayaga) and Atiratra (agnicayana). In 1975, the ritual was conducted, at Panjal, Thrissur. apart from that, many somayagas and atiratras have been conducted in Kerala.[4]

See also

References
  1. "|| VrajRang - Vrajotsavji || - Acharya Dr. Vrajotsavji". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  2. "Naimisharanyam Yagashala". Google Maps. Google.
  3. "Somayagam".
  4. Staal, Frits; Mahadevan, T. P. (2003). "The Turning-Point in a Living Tradition somayāgam 2003". Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies. 10 (1): 1–29. doi:10.11588/ejvs.2003.1.743. ISSN 1084-7561.
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